Notes: Teams in both the Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series will run the same tire codes this weekend at Michigan . . . this is the same combination of left- and right-side tires that Goodyear brought for Sprint Cup and Craftsman Truck teams to run at this track this past June . . . in addition to Michigan, this is the same tire set-up that major NASCAR teams have run at Dover this season . . . Nationwide teams have also run this set-up at Kentucky . . . this left-side tire code (D-4134) is also run with a different right-side code at both Texas and Chicagoland . . . as on all NASCAR ovals greater than one mile in length, teams are required to run inner liners in all four tire positions at Michigan . . . air pressure in those inner liners should be 12-25 psi greater than that of the outer tire.

ENTRY, PRACTICE, QUALIFYING, AND RACE INFORMATION

Race Results

Edwards wins at Michigan: #60-Carl Edwards won the Carfax 250 at Michigan International Speedway for his third Nationwide win of the season. The race ended under caution after #01-Danny Efland spun on the final lap and the leaders had already taken the white flag. #32-Brian Vicker was second followed by #20-Tony Stewart, #5-Mark Martin, #16-Greg Biffle, #1-Mike Bliss, #18-Joey Logano, #38-Jason Leffler, #47-Kelly Bires, and #2-Clint Bowyer. There were 6 cautions for 21 laps and 10 lead changes between 4 leaders.(8-16-2008)

Driver Points

Driver Standings: Clint Bowyer's point lead shrinks a little more, to 113 over Carl Edwards. Brad Keselowski fell back to third. Mike Bliss jumped 2 spots to fourth and David Reutimann fell to fifth. The rest of the top ten are David Ragan, Kyle Busch, Mike Wallace, Jason Leffler, and Marcos Ambrose.(8-16-2008)

Owner Points

Owner Points Following Race # 25
Michigan International Speedway
CARFAX 250
UNOFFICIAL Provided by NASCAR Statistics - Saturday, 8/16/2008 @ 5:47 PM EasternTeams in Green are locked into the field at the next race.REVISED DUE TO #18 & #20 Penalties

Pos

Owner

Car #

Points

Ldr

Attpts

1

JOE GIBBS

20

3750

0

25

2

RICHARD CHILDRESS

2

3582

168

25

3

JACK ROUSH

60

3469

281

25

4

DALE EARNHARDT, JR

88

3450

300

25

5

RICHARD CHILDRESS

29

3378

372

25

6

MICHAEL WALTRIP

99

3219

531

25

7

JACK ROUSH

6

3202

548

25

8

DELANA HARVICK

33

3201

549

25

9

RICK HENDRICK

5

3088

662

25

10

JAMES FINCH

1

3067

683

25

11

ED RENSI

64

3053

697

25

12

BOB GERMAIN

7

2963

787

25

13

RALPH BRAUN

38

2926

824

25

14

TAD GESCHICKTER

59

2903

847

25

15

GEORGE GILLETT, JR

9

2902

848

25

16

TODD BRAUN

32

2870

880

25

17

BRYAN MULLET

11

2807

943

25

18

ED RENSI

25

2761

989

25

19

FLOYD GANASSI

40

2708

1042

25

20

RUSTY WALLACE

66

2651

1099

25

21

JODI GESCHICKTER

47

2618

1132

25

22

ARMANDO FITZ

22

2536

1214

25

23

JACK ROUSH

16

2417

1333

19

24

MIKE CURB

27

2374

1376

25

25

MIMI FITZ

28

2268

1482

25

26

PAT MACDONALD

81

1978

1772

25

27

JOHN MCGILL

24

1936

1814

25

28

CHARLIE SHOFFNER

61

1887

1863

25

29

JAMES FINCH

4

1873

1877

25

30

JOE GIBBS

18

1797

1953

13

31

JOHNNY DAVIS

1

1693

2057

25

32

JIMMY MEANS

52

1690

2060

25

33

CHRIS LENCHESKI

30

1635

2115

19

34

CINDY SHEPHERD

89

1563

2187

25

35

MARY LOUISE MILLER

70

1374

2376

14

36

GARY BAKER

37

1221

2529

19

37

WAYNE DAY

5

1168

2582

25

38

JACK ROUSH

17

1160

2590

9

39

MARCIA PARSONS

90

1132

2618

25

40

RICHARD CHILDRESS

21

1043

2707

9

41

STACEY HUMPHREY

91

958

2792

25

42

JOHNNY DAVIS

0

950

2800

25

43

CHIP GANASSI

41

762

2988

10

44

ROGER PENSKE

12

737

3013

9

45

MIKE HARMON

84

735

3015

18

46

STANTON BARRETT

31

582

3168

13

47

TODD BRAUN

10

549

3201

4

48

DUSTY WHITNEY

92

518

3232

8

49

JAY ROBINSON

36

505

3245

12

50

JAY ROBINSON

49

459

3291

12

51

CORRIE STOTT

02

455

3295

11

52

JOHN MCNELLY

56

284

3466

5

53

DELANA HARVICK

77

245

3505

3

54

DEBRA BORNEMAN

83

243

3507

3

55

ROBERT RICHARDSON

23

202

3548

4

56

ROBBY GORDON

55

182

3568

2

57

EDDIE D'HONDT

92

175

3575

1

58

ALEX GARCIA

98

167

3583

3

59

DALE EARNHARDT, JR

83

165

3585

1

60

STEVE GERMAIN

03

160

3590

1

61

TONY CLEMENTS

50

150

3600

3

62

MARK ARELLANO

55

148

3602

5

63

EARL SADLER

95

140

3610

2

64

CHAD BEAHR

57

136

3614

4

65

TERESA EARNHARDT

8

135

3615

2

66

TROY WILLIAMS

86

113

3637

2

67

DUKE THORSON

13

103

3647

1

68

DOUG TAYLOR

62

92

3658

2

69

RAY HACKETT

76

83

3667

2

70

SUSAN O'CONNELL

09

83

3667

2

71

MICHAEL WALTRIP

00

82

3668

1

72

RICK HENDRICK

48

81

3669

1

73

DERRIKE COPE

73

80

3670

3

74

RAY EVERNHAM

19

55

3695

1

75

CURTIS KEY

31

49

3701

1

76

MICHAEL EGE

57

47

3703

2

77

TROY WILLIAMS

84

46

3704

1

78

STAN SILVA, JR

65

46

3704

1

79

DANIELLE LONG

46

43

3707

1

80

BOB SCHACHT

75

37

3713

1

81

CARL HAAS

14

18

3732

1

82

ANDREA NEMECHEK

87

16

3734

1

83

CARY AGAJANIAN

98

0

3750

1

Starting Lineup

Edwards on Pole in Michigan: #60-Carl Edwards won the Coors Light Pole for the Carfax 250 at Michigan International Speedway with a speed of 186.104mph. #33-Cale Gale will start on the outside of row 1. The rest of the top 10: #32-Brian Vickers, #64-David Stremme, #99-David Reutimann, #18-Joey Logano, #20-Tony Stewart, #16-Greg Biffle, #27-David Gilliland, and #5-Mark Martin. Not making the race: #0-Larry Gunselman, #49-Kertus Davis, and #57-Mike Guerity.(8-16-2008)

Biffle Fastest in Opening Practice: #16-Greg Biffle was fastest in the opening practice for the Carfax 250 at Michigan. His top speed was 179.154mph. #60-Carl Edwards was second, follwed by: #32-Brian Vickers, #64-David Stremme, #99-David Reutimann, #5-Mark Martin, #2-Clint Bowyer, #6-David Ragan, #18-Joey Logano, and #1- Mike Bliss. #4-Derrike Cope was the only driver to not practice. There were two incidents during the session: individual wrecks by #50-Jeremy Clements and #23-Robert Richardson. Clements suffered moderate damage but the team doesn't have a backup so they withdrew. Richardson's damage was minor.(8-15-2008)

NASCAR News & Notes

NASCAR Nationwide Series News & Notes - Michigan

Brad Keselowski Heads Home With One Thing In Mind: Win

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (August 12, 2008) - Last year, Michigan native Brad Keselowski (#88 U.S. NAVY Chevy) received an emotional standing ovation from fans at Michigan International Speedway when he crossed the finish line 13th in his first NASCAR Nationwide Series appearance at his home track.

This time around, the 24-year-old from Rochester Hills – a two-hour drive from MIS – returns home with quite a resume. And a reachable goal. He’s stepped up his game this season having secured his first win, his first pole, and more importantly his first quest for a title.

Keselowski is second in the standings, 128 points behind Clint Bowyer (#2 BB&T Chevy). It’s the closest Keselowski has been to first place in his career and the closest any driver has been to Bowyer since May.

He realizes the significance of his ranking.

“I was reading something the other day about Alan Kulwicki when he won his championship in 1992,” he said. “He wrecked out at Dover with six races to go and he was about 280 points behind and came back to win the championship. So, being only 128 behind Clint is not the end of the world.

“We need to race to win, and if we can win some races, we can close that gap really quickly.”

In 27 starts for JR Motorsports last year, Keselowski posted five top-10 finishes. This year he has nearly tripled that total, posting eight top fives and 14 top 10s in 24 starts.

Ambrose’s Win Builds On Series-Only Regulars’ Success

Marcos Ambrose’s (#59 STP Ford) first career NASCAR Nationwide Series win at Watkins Glen marked the fourth victory for series-only regulars this year, the most since 2005 when five series-only regulars registered wins.

“I’ve dragged my family halfway around the world … and today it just feels like it was all worthwhile,” said the native of Launceston, Tasmania. “It feels like I’ve conquered a huge mountain.”

Ambrose’s win also vaulted him into 10th in the standings, the first time he has been in the top 10 since the end of last season when he finished eighth. The affable Aussie finished third – after starting 43rd – in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at the Glen in just his third career start and will pull double-duty again this weekend at MIS.

Scott Wimmer (#29 Holiday Inn Chevy) in March, Brad Keselowski in June at Nashville Superspeedway and Joey Logano (#18 GameStop Toyota) at Kentucky Speedway are the other series-only regulars to capture wins this year.

Go-Time For Edwards, Roush-Fenway

What’s a little beating and banging among friends?

Carl Edwards (#60 Save-A-Lot Ford), the reigning series champion and Clint Bowyer, the current standings leader, tangled for the second time this summer at Watkins Glen. As a result, both drivers find themselves in a bit more precarious situation in the standings.

Push also came to shove between the two at the Milwaukee Mile where Edwards moved Bowyer out of the way late, en route to his first win of the year.

Their tussle at The Glen dropped them to finishes in the mid-20s and also impacted both in the standings.

Bowyer saw his lead – although still stout – slip so that second place is as close as its been in four months.

Edwards slipped from second to third in the rankings and at 174 points behind Bowyer, could be watching his chance at a repeat go by the wayside.

His team owner, Jack Roush – who runs one of his engine facilities out of Livonia, Mich. – leads all series owners with three wins at MIS. But one of his cars hasn’t won there in 10 years, since Jeff Burton became the only driver to win from the pole in 1998.

Edwards’ last two races at Michigan haven’t been stellar, either. After finishing third in his first series start at the two-mile track in 2005, he’s finished 23rd and 28th, respectively, in his last two races there.

Brad Not The Only Keselowski Making The Rounds At Michigan

Brad Keselowski’s older brother also will attempt to qualify at Michigan.

Brian Keselowski, 26, finished higher than his brother (15th) the last time they raced together three weeks ago at O’Reilly Raceway Park, but Brad had the upper hand at Michigan last year, finishing 13th to Brian’s 33rd.

Brian will attempt to make his 10th NASCAR Nationwide Series start this season. The brothers’ dad, Bob, a long-time owner in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, will serve as crew chief for Brian.

Mark Martin Makes Series Return At One Of His Hot Spots — Michigan

Mark Martin (#5 GoDaddy.com Chevy) will make his third start of the season this weekend at Michigan and also goes for his record-breaking third win at the track.

The series’ all-time leader in wins (48) and poles (30) is tied with three other drivers — two-time series champion Dale Earnhardt Jr., Todd Bodine and Ryan Newman – for the most wins at Michigan (two).

Martin has been dominant at MIS, having posted a series-high seven top fives and eight top 10s to go along with one pole in 10 starts.

Only Jeff Burton has stats to rival Martin’s – one win, one pole, five top fives and eight top 10s in 11 races.

In The Loop: Michigan A Favorite On Martin’s Limited Series Schedule

Coming in cold doesn’t really faze Mark Martin. It’s sort of become a trademark of the all-time wins leader in the NASCAR Nationwide Series.

Martin has taken a three-month hiatus from the series, but don’t expect much rust. He’s made a living at running part-time in the series and still being able to snag wins. Take 1993, for instance. Martin won seven times while only running 14 of the 28 races that year.

This weekend, he looks to make it 2-3 (he won at Las Vegas Motor Speedway). The statistics suggest it’s a possibility. Martin has the top pre-race Michigan Driver Rating of anyone running in Saturday’s race: 110.0. Along with that mark, Martin has an Average Running Position of 6.7, 11 Fastest Laps Run and a Laps in the Top 15 percentage of 92.9% in his last two Michigan races.

Also watch for a strong run from Brian Vickers (#32 ABF Freight Toyota). Vickers started second and finished sixth last season at Michigan and over his last two starts has a Driver Rating of 98.0, an Average Running Position of 11.4, 21 Fastest Laps Run and a Laps in the Top 15 percentage of 84.4%.

One thing is certain, this will be a memorable weekend for Brad Coleman (#27 Kleenex Ford) no matter how he finishes as he’ll attempt to qualify for his first NASCAR Sprint Cup race on Sunday. He’s already locked into the NASCAR Nationwide Series event, and hopes to follow up with another strong Michigan performance. Last season, in his first trip to the two-mile track, he finished 15th and racked up strong stats earning a Driver Rating of 81.6, an Average Running Position of 11.4, 62 Green Flag Passes and ran 54 of the 125 laps running among the top 15.

The Director’s Take: Back To Ovals After Two Weeks On The “Road”

After two consecutive races on road courses, the NASCAR Nationwide Series returns to racing on an oval this week at 2-mile Michigan International Speedway.

“Teams have been dealing with left and right turns. Now they come to a big, wide speedway ,” said Series Director Joe Balash.

"Teams will work hard to keep the attitude of the car in what they feel is their perfect configuration to make them go as fast as they can on the long straights. Yet, they need to give the driver as much feel and control as possible to make that left turn at 180-plus mph.

“They’ve spent a lot of time and detail into hanging car bodies. Aerodynamics will play a big role at Michigan.”

NNS Etc.

Coleman Seeks NASCAR Sprint Cup Debut: Brad Coleman (#27 Kleenex Ford) will attempt to make his NASCAR Sprint Cup debut at MIS after being named last week to replace J.J. Yeley in the #96 Toyota for Hall of Fame Racing. The 20-year-old native of Houston, Texas, will have to qualify on time as the team sits 39th in owner points.

Logano And Stewart Teammates For First Time This Season: Joey Logano (#18 GameStop Toyota) will race with Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Tony Stewart (#20 Old Spice Toyota) for the first time in series competition at Michigan. Stewart is second in the series with five wins while Logano has a win, two poles, three top fives and six top 10s in his eight-race career.

Will The Streak Continue?: One of four drivers, including defending pole winner and former series champion Greg Biffle (#16 CitiFinancial Ford), Derrike Cope (#4 JVC Chevy), Mark Martin and Kevin Lepage (#73 Dodge) can become the first multiple pole winner at MIS. There have been 14 different pole winners for the track’s 16 races.

Manufacturers’ StandingsFord won its fourth race of the season last Saturday cutting into Toyota’s lead in the Bill France Performance Cup standings.

Marcos Ambrose and JTG Racing are the first Ford team other than Roush Fenway Racing to secure a series win this season.

MIS bodes well for Chevy, which has won 11 of the 14 series races at the track including the last two in a row.

Cassill Wrestles Rookie Lead From CGRFS Duo

Landon Cassill took the lead in the Raybestos Rookie of the Year standings last weekend at Watkins Glen and is now four points ahead of Bryan Clauson. But neither Cassill nor Clauson are entered in the CARFAX 250, opening the door for Clauson’s Chip Ganassi Racingwith Felix Sabates teammate DarioFranchitti, who posted his best career finish (fifth) at The Glen after capturing his first career pole.

This will be Franchitti’s 13th series start this season. He has posted one top-five and two top-10s and is scheduled for one more start than Clauson as the two drivers will split the remainder of the season’s 11 races.

Franchitti will make his first start in a NASCAR Nationwide Series car at Michigan, but in his last start at the track in 2007 in the IndyCar Series he sat on the pole, but finished 13th due to an accident.